Torque controlled liquid torque drive



v Filed April 29, 1946 Feb. 28, 1950 B. F. KENYQN 2,499,099

' 1 l. I lill y BNL-:mok l l i 1 s) M S TToRNaYs IFeb. 28, 1950 r B, F, KENYQNV l 2,499,099

TORQUE CONTROLLED LIQUID TORQUE DRIVE I 4 sheets-sheet 2 Fi1ed`Apri1 29. 1946 .ci 2 P.

llllll mllllllr bve-mog TTORNEYS B. F. KENYON TORQUE CONTRLLED LIQUID TORQUE 'DRIVE Feb. `28, 195o 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed. April 29, 1946 ATTORNEYS' Feb. 28, 1950 B. F.. KENYON 2,499,099

v ToRQuE coNTRoLIQED LIQUID ToRQUE DRIVE Filed April 29, 194e 4 sheets-sheet 4 BERTRAND E KaNYoN TTORNEYS.

TORQUE CONTROLLED LIQUID TURQUIE.'v DRIVE Bertrand 'll'. Kenyon, Grand Rapids, `Mic'h., 1as- Patented Feb. 28 195.0

signor Ito ,Mechano Gear Shift Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., :a corporation of Michigan Application April A29, 1946 'Serial No. 665,.744

This invention is concerned `vvi'th'novel and veri7 desirable improvements 'in the torque controlled liquid torque -drive disclosed in my prior `application, now Patent No. 2,400,121, 'issued May 14,

out yaffecting the -driven member. When said control means l-is moved toward its closing Iposition, an operative connection of fthe Idriving and driven members begins, and with further move- 7 Claims. (Cl. 192--60) 'cept for l'a minimum required passage for balancing the head, thereupon *the liquid stops circulating and the driving Aand `driven members are connected in ldirect yone to one driving ratio. It

194.6. In such application the liquid connection 5 is desirable in 'some instances, -for example, on of driving and driven members for driving the :an automobile to have the engine run idle, that latter fby Athe former, vcontrolled '-by the function- 'is Ythe crank 'shaft Iof the engine will continually ing of a control means 'is fully disclosed. As long operate a-t some predetermined low speed, with fas the control means 'is in open position, the the snai-t usual-ly Idriven by the engine crank Adriving member may vcontinuol-isly operate withi() shaft through the intervention of a clutch at rest by reason 4oi the Aclutch being disconnected. My invention, using 'the torque liquid drive disclosed as a substitute tor the previous disconnecting clutch, Ithe running idle of the engine ment, in Aeffect locks the 'driving and driven mem- T5 maybe accomplished by a spring pre-load against 'bers together at `a set time andset torque, and the movement' 'of the lby-pass head, with the the 'driving holds through la liquid cushion beproper calibration and size of the passages protween the members, 'and Wit-hout any metal to `vided in said by-pass head for liquid passage or metal engagement, and without movement Aof circulation. EBy such construction, the engine liquid when said driving and driven members 'are 2O 'may run idle Without driving the automobile, turning atthe same speed. v but upon accelerating the engine and increasing In the disclosure of myprior application, means the speed of the A'crank shaft, the pressure of fthe Aare provided whereby the torque of the driving circulation liquid will build u-p with automatic shaft is `converted into pressure equal to the load progressive lleereasing of the area of liquid pas- `in the driven shaft, thereby maintaining direct 5 sage in the by-pass head until shortly, a direct drive through the liquid regardless Aof the speed :of rotation or until the torque-is released. `'The liquid is to pass through a .controllable restricted Icourse or passage therefor until the increasing resistance to passage of the liquid builds up La. pressure therein lequal to the load. In such previously shown disclosure there is included a casing containing liquid which, under centrifugal action, when the mechanism is in operation and rotating, provides `a liquid ring covering the cyl- `inder .ports and xWithin the ring there is a center containing'no liquid, but air. The unit, by means of which `the driving and driven members are connected, is a rotating 'unit within which the liquid is carried, which unit vacts .as a fly Wheel. yA very small amount of liquid is required so vthat the size .and weight of the ily Wheel is limited, there is vthe development of .substantially no heat because the liquid does not circulate when a direct driving connection betvveen the driving and ,t

driven .members has been attained, and the liquid used is not Wasted nor lost, 'whereby the mechanisrn in conjunction Within which the liquid is used is a self-contained unit. y

The :control `member utilized, hereafter denoted as by-pass lhead which in construction is a combined 'movable by-pass and compression head, is automatically movable under the pressures generated and is progressively increasingly moved toward Aits closed position as the pressure is increasingly enlarged as the progressive movement of the by-pass head more 'and more restricts the liquid circulation. Andxat the iinal operative lposition thereof, the liquid circulation has been substantially stopped, and is wholly stopped exone to Jonedriving ratio between the Adriving crank shaft and 'the 4shaft leading to the sliding gear transmission #driven thereby is made.

The connection oi 'the driving and driven mem-- bers should "be capable of release yquickly Aand practically instantly. The present invention 'has for its primary object vand purpose land is ydirected to the provision ci a novel, Apractical means for xsuch substantially instant release when desired. Many other ancillary oblio-cts and purposes -to such -oblgect and purpose, together with novell and practical means and mechanism Ifor attaining 'the same, will appear and be understood from the following description, taken in connection with the .accompanying `drawings ilinstr-ating a preferred embodiment vof the invention :and of an improved construction of the torque control liquid torque driving structure, in which drawings,

Fig, l .is fa vertical section in a plane .at :right angles tothe .longitudinal saxis of `the driving and driven shafts, lsaid .section being taken through th-'e liquid torque drive unit.

1z`E'ig. 2 "is a vertical section in a plane vparallel to or substantially coincident with the :axis of the driving and ydriven shafts.

Fig. f3 lis `a transverse vertical section on a lplane parallel tothe section shown in Fig. 1 at 'the back of the direct drive unit and looking in a forward direction. l

Fig. 4 is a 'transverse vertical section through the unit at vthe front thereof, the vinterior mechanism of the unit Within its casing being shown in front elevation.

Fig. J5 is fan elevation'of a solenoid controlled mechanism for opening and closing the passag of liquid to the cylindersof the unit.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged elevation showing the opening through Which the liquid passes from the liquid ring to said cylinders and the rocking valve which may open or close said opening.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged longitudinal section through it at the housing of the by-pass head, said head being shown therein in side elevation.

Fig. 8 is a like section, theby-pass head being also shown in longitudinal section.

Fig. 9 is a partial transverse vertical section and end elevation looking at the left hand end of Figs. 7 or 8, and

l is a somewhat diagrammatic elevation showing a method of operating the quick release of the driving and driven members through the movement of an element of the structure shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 to release the liquid under built-up pressure to the atmospheric center of the unit, thereby substantially instantly reducing the operative pressure to which the liquid has been subjected to that of atmospheric pressure, effecting the quick release of the connection of the driving and driven members.

Like reference characters refer to like parts inthe different figures of the drawings.

The present disclosure of the invention in question shows an environment for the invention similar in most respects to that shown in my prior application above identified, though `with some modications and improvements in structural detail for economy and betterment of operation. The driving shaft shown at I in Fig. 2 may lbe provided with an annular flange 2 at its end, and a drum member having hub 3 and an annular drum 4 cast integral therewith secured to the ilange 2, together with a section 5 of the surrounding housing or casing within which the liquid used is contained. Cap screws 6 are used in securing the drum, the housing section 5 and the flange 2, in permanent relation to each other. The housing is completed by an annular section 'l and a rear side 8 all of the housing sections being of thin metal and secured together in a sealed relation to prevent leakage of the hydraulic liquid which is used.

The drum e is closed at its rear end by a closure plate which has a central hub 9 and an annular plate lll extending therefrom connected by screws to the drum at its open side. The hub 9 is in axial alinement. with the hub 3 and a sleeve il extends through the hub Si and into a bearing recess in the hub 3 provided to receive the front end of the sleeve. A driven shaft l2, in axial alinement with the driving shaft l, passes 'through a sleeve bearing i3, as shown in Fig. 2, is extended into the sleeve il and ha-s a splined connection therewith as shown in Fig. l. An eccentric lli integral with or permanently secured to the sleeve is located between the bearing hubs 9 and 3 and a relatively heavy cap screw i5 passes through the center of the hub 3 and screws into the adjacent end of the driving shaft i.

From the annular portion of drum 4 integral pairs of spaced parallel arms I6 extend radially outward nearly to the annular walls of the housing described, there being four pairs of such arms located at angles of 90 to each other. Between each pair of arms a cylinder` l1, closed at its outer end, is located and mounted on a transverse pin le extending through the outer portion of each cylinder and mounted at its ends `ci and near the outer ends of the arms I6, four of said cylinders `being provided. Between adjacent angularly disposed arms Iii, integral Webs Ita are cast for strength and reinforcement. Within each cylinder a piston l'ia is reciprocably mounted. The pistons are disposed in two pairs, the pistons being in opposition to each other and axially alined. As shown in Fig. 2 the pistons are interiorly hollowed out and recessed at their outer portions and the walls are slotted at diametrically opposite points from the outer ends inwardly to eliminate interference with the pins i8 upon which the cylinders are mounted for a limited rocking movement.

Each of the pistons lla at the front side thereof and toward its outer end has a port I9 passing through its wall which in one position of the said pistons comes into conjunction with a plurality of openings 20 made through the wall of its associated cylinder I7. As shown in Fig. 4, a conduit made of a pipe 2| shaped in a generally square outline, or made up of a number of sections of pipe `having their ends in conjunction with each other lies against all of the cylinders Il' with openings through the sides of the pipe in conjunction with the openings 29 of the cylinders and held in place by screw attached plates of clips 22 secured to said cylinders. At one portion of the length of the conduit made by the pipe 2|, a sleeve 23 is located, which may be utilized to join together the two ends of a single pipe length 2|, said sleeve having a lateral opening 24 in its side (Fig. 6) so that communication is made between the interior of the enclosing housing and the conduit 2|, whereby liquid contained within the housing may pass through said opening at 24 into the conduit 2| and thence through the openings 20 and through the openings I9 when they are in conjunction with the openings 2D to supply liquid for the chambers between the pistons and the outer ends of the cylinders.

Each of the pistons I'la at its inner end has a projection 25 of cylindrical form and of less diameter than the exterior diameter of the piston, with ribs 26 at right angles to each other around it. A frame rectangular in outline comprised of two spaced apart open frame members 2l securely connected together in spaced relation to each other is disposed one at one side and the other at the opposite side of the projecting portions 25, said frame members 21 having slots 28, four in number, in succession at right angles to each other near their outer edges, in which opposite portions of the annular ribs 25 are received. The eccentric I4 is received in openings in the frames 21 so that as the pistons and cylinders move around the eccentric said pistons are reciprocated, the diametrically opposed pistons, the longitudinal axes of which are substantially coincident, moving simultaneously and equally in opposite directions in their respective cylinders.

Each cylinder il, near its outer end at its front side, has an outlet port 29 connecting with a coupling or union 30, to which a conducting pipe 3| is permanently secured. The four pipes 3|, forming a manifold, are directed to and connected with the outer housing 32 of the by-pass head previously mentioned. Said pipes, as shown in Fig. 3, connect with the interior of `said housing so that liquid pumped therethrough will circulate through the housing during such times as the pistons are reciprocated and liquid circulation occurs.

The by-pass head housing 32 is a cylindery havacca-ooo ing aclosed end :34. Ports .'33 from .the pipes .3l `are mesh through the-wallsof the cylinder, being located nearer the closed end 34r than the other end of the cylinder (Figs. 7 and '8). vFrom said ports 33 a number of .longitudinal passages 35 extend lengthwise `of the Walls of the cylinder to said other end, one of such passages leading from eachlof the ports 33, therefore, iour in all. The open end vof the cylinder is closed by a closure plate 33 havinga cen-ter portion extending in-to the cylinder and an annular il-ange bearing against the ends of the walls with openings 31 therethrough alined and in conjunction -with the longitudinal passages '35. Outside of the closure member 36, a circular plate 38 is located in which four arcuate lslots 39 are `cut through it, said slots always being in conjunction with the openings 31 (Fig. '9). Outside of the plate 38, a circular plate iii is placed ywith four openings 41 therein positioned so that in one location of the intermediate plate 38, the openings ii `are not in conjunction with the slots 39. But, by moving the intermediate plate 33 about its center, the arc-shaped slots 39 are brought into conjunctio-n with both the openings 31 and 4l to lmake a direct communication from the passages 35 tothe outside.

Over Vthe outer flat plate 40 a sheet metal annular housing 42 is located having a depressed center portion bearing yagainst the center part of the outside plate 40, and with an annular chamber 42 which receives liquid co-nducted through the passages 3-5 and the .openings 31 and lll, and slots 39. ,iiromthe chamber 42 an outlet branch 42a (Fig. 4`) extends toward the center of the housing or into the portion of the housing in which no oil is located, that is, the atmosphere center of said housing.

The closure member 3.6 and the outside plate 4t are held against rotation by a pin 43 projecting from the cylinder housing 32, each of said members 35 and i0 being provided with projecting recessed fingers in the recesses .of which the pin 43 is located. All of said plates together with the chambered housing 42 having a center screw A5 passing therethrough in threaded connection with a guide member, which at its outer end, has a cylindrical head 4.6 tting the interior of the housing .3.2 and .a stemd'l of .decreased diameter extending therefrom longitudinally `of the cylinder 32. A split ring 48 mounted as shown in Fig. A8 locks the head rit against outward movementvbeyond the position shown. The stem 41 has an axial passage i9 through it and the screw d is also provided with a communicating axial passage to make a direct communication between the chamber 5l within the by-pass head ,5B for free pass-age of air or liquid inward or Outward in the movements of the by-pass head lrelative .to said guiding stem i1 therefor.

The bypass head .50 is of cylindrical form Awith an exterior diameter very closely approaching the interior diameter -of the housing 32. It is normally moved by a heavy coiled compression spring 5,2 between it and the head 46 (Fig. 8) so as to come against the closed end 3i! of the cylinder 32. 'When in such position (`Fig; 7), a plurality of spaced annular calibrated grooves 53 cut around the exterior of the by-pass head and spaced from each other by interveningv narrow ribs 54 are located directly at the liquid inlet ports 33. From the outer ygrooves 53, calibrated passages 53 and 55 lead to .opposite ends of .the by-pass head 5U, the. former communicating with a chamber as shown Yat 5'.' in Fig. 8, .and conducting liquid to Cil said chamber to movefsaid head to the'left against the spring 52, the other passage v56 l.conducting oil into the chamber 158 which Vis :between the Ioy-pass head and the head 116 of its guide. All of the ribs 5t have transverse passages therethrough in alinement Awith the passages '55 and 56.

The movable plate 38 is provided with an youtwardly extending ear 53 to which an elongated link 83 is vpivotally connected at one end (Figs. 4 and '9) and at its other end tothe arm 6I of a bell crank lever, the other arm 62 oi which is associated with the previously Idescribed oil entrance opening 21% to the pipe 2 I to veither cover or uncover said opening. Such bell crank lever 3i is connected to a rock shaft 53 mounted for rocking movement in :a lug 64 integrally cast with a sleeve 23 (Fig. 5). 'Rock shaft 53 extends through the adjacent web Iia and is operable by means of a solenoid construction housed within a housing 35 mounted upon the lrear side 8 oi the main unit housing.

Within the housing 65 is a well known type of electric construction which is moved upon .energizing a solenoid or magnet to rotate'the shaft 65.

i A disk '61 is secured to the shaft 66 and has pins t8 extending 'therefrom through a small diameter disk 6 9 coupled to the shaft :53 (Fig. l0) and rocking said shaft against a torsion spring 10 (Fig. 5) interposed between the disk .3S and the bearing sleeve of web ita through Which shaft B3 passes. Upo-n such rocking `the bell crank lever is moved to carry `the arm (i2 across the opening 24, closing it, and simultaneously actuating the link 60 to move the plate 33 and thereby bring ythe openings 4l into conjunction with the Aarc shaped slots 33 (Fig. 9) for the passage of liquid from the passages 35 into the chambered housing 'i12 vand thence outward through the `outlet pipe 32d.

As one of an indefinite number of ways in which electric current may be supphed to the solenoid or magnet Within the housing 8,5, a vcollar 'H is mounted upon and .insulated from the shaft i2 f with a brush 12 bearing upon the collar, connected through `a wire or other conductor of electricity 13 with `a bracket 143with suitable insulation to prohibit electrical connection with the rear plate of the main housing, and an .electric connection 1.5 ,between the bracket M and the magnet or solenoidwithin the housing 55. A cable 15 connected at one end within the collar 'Ei at one end connects at its opposite end with aconta-ct 11. Associated with the contact is another contact 'i8 mounted on a Spring actuated lever 19 which carries a member 3Q `pressed against a cam y8l mounted on a shaft 82. The .cam 8l has `successive rises and depressions and when the bearing member is located in a depression between the rises, contacts 18 vand 11 are brought together to complete an electric circuit. For example, the circuit wires 16 may be connected with the battery of an automobileyto supply the current and the shaft 82 operated by the gear lshift lever in a manner such that the contacts 11 and 18 are f separated when gears of the automobile transmission are in .meshing engagement.; and are together during the periods when the gear shift lever is in neutral or Ais being operated to shift the gears. The one mechanism referred vto and described is not to be considered in any `manner limiting the invention to such structural manner of operation. Many other Ways may be devised and used to effect the simultaneous closure of the oil passing yopening 24 and movement of the plate 33 to relieve oil pressure within the oil circuit and eficaces 7 reduce the pressure of the oil or liquid circuit to that of atmospheric pressure.

Operation-the main casing enclosing the unit is supplied with a required quantity of liquid which in practice is oil. Such liquid, upon the rotation of said unit located between the driving and driven shaft and connected therewith, through centrifugal action will form a ring of oil, indicated at 83 in Fig. l, and the central space within the casing being free of oil and at atmospheric pressure, while the pressure to which the ring 83 of oil is subjected will vary according to the speed of rotation of said unit. When the shaft I is driven, for example by an engine or other prime mover, shaft I2 initially is at rest, the pistons IIa rotating about the eccentric I4. are reciprocated as previously described, oil being alternately drawn into the cylinders and expelled therefrom through the outlet pipes 30. At the beginning with the by-pass head as shown in Fig. 7, the oil is circulated through the ports 33 and the annular grooves 53, the grooves permitting a maximum passage of ail which will circulate from one piston to another and back and at an idling speed, that is, a predetermined low rotation of driving shaft I, and shaft I2 will remain at rest. This substantially closed oil circuit is always maintained with` a full supply of oil by reason of the ports I9 and 20 and the pipe 2| communicated therewith, the opening 24 being uncovered.

With increase of speed of rotation and a development of increased pressure and ilow of the pumped oil, the grooves 53 cannot pass all of it and oil at high pressure forms through the passage at 55 against the end 34 of the cylinder 32. The entire area at its outer end, of the bypass head is subjected to said pressure and only part of the area outside of plane 47 being thus subjected, said by-pass head will be moved to compress the spring 52 and progressively decrease the passage for oil supplied by the annular grooves 53, which grooves in the movement of the by-pass head to the left (Figs. 7 and 8) will have the grooves successively cut 01T from functioning. This causes consequent decrease of passage area for the oil in grooves 53, with a corresponding acceleration in movement of the by-pass head until the final position is reached, wherein only the last groove 53 at the left is partially conected with the ports 33. As such resistance to and progressive stopping of the oil circulation occurs, the pistons bearing with increased pressure upon the eccentric I4 starts the eccentric and the connected shaft I2 rotating, there being a progressive increase in rotation of the shaft I2 with respect to the driving shaft I until when the Icy-pass head reaches the position shown in Fig. 8, the pistons completely cease reciprocating and are, for all effective purposes, the same as securely connected with the eccentric I 4 and the driving and driven shafts are turned at the same speed of rotation in a direction one to one ratio, the driven shaft having been brought up to said ratio of rotation to the driving from its initial rest or no rotation.

By operating the atmosphere release mechanism, that is providing a free passage of the oil through the passages 35 by moving the plate 38 to allow the free escape of the oil under pressure from the passages 35, the oil pressure within the manifold pipes 3| and the cylinders and in the chambers 5l and 58 are reduced, whereupon oil from the chamber 51 passes back through the passage 55, because of the pressure of the heavy spring 52, and very quickly the driven shaft I2 is brought to a stop, while the driving shaft I continues at whatever speed of rotation has been operating. Of course, the times of connecting and disconnecting the driving and driven shafts are dependent upon the areas of the passages 55 and 56 and are a matter of engineering design. However, the chamber 51 when completely filled with oil, carries but a relatively small quantity thereof which, under the pressure of the spring 52 greatly in excess of atmospheric pressure, causes a very rapid emptying of the chamber and a return of the by-pass head to the position shown in Fig. 7.

From the foregoing disclosure, it is evident that the liquid in the cylinders and in the high pressure oil circuit including the by-pass head construction, and the conducting pipes leading from the cylinders thereto, remains under the pressure exerted by the pistons until the releasing plate 38 is moved to open such pressure circuit to atmosphere pressure only. A piston pressure unit is provided which has a constant 'liquid pressure due to equalized displacement of the cylinders and the pressure from each cylinder forces liquid into the by-pass chambers and channel passages so that pressure does not occur between the pistons and cylinders alone individually, and also is not against a dead end, but instead there is a circulating liquid mass in liquid ratio.

Whenever it is desired to break the connection between the driving and driven members, it is only necessary to move the control valve plate 38 to thereupon open the ports, passages, chambers and channels in which the liquid under high pressure is contained to atmospheric pressure. This will immediately neutralize the pump pressure on the liquid, allowing the driving member or shaft to rotate freely, but with the driven member not driven thereby. There is a substantially instantaneous disconnection of the driving and driven members, which is a primary object and purpose of the present invention. To reconnect said driving and driven members requires merely a return of the control valve member 38 to its closed position, thereby closing the high pressure liquid circuit, cutting it 01T from atmospheric pressure, whereupon the pressure in the cylinders and connected passages and chambers may be again very rapidly, in fact almost instantly built up until the necessary driving connection between the driving and driven members is attained to take carezof the load which the driven member carries.

The construction described, in general essentials like my prior filed application, plus the irnprovements herein described provides a unit with which there is little or no 7difference in the speeds of rotation of the driving and driven members under load. Operation of the pistons is substantially or wholly stopped, and movement of the liquid after the full connection between the driving and driven members has been attained, is either wholly stopped or very limited in extent, thereby insuring against development of heat and rises in temperature, and allowing the use of a liquid of low viscous content.

The atmosphere center within the unit surrounded by a liquid ring eliminates possibilities of leakage in the operation with the driving and driven members, and also allows the atmosphere to partially replace liquid in the high pressure liquid circuit upon full idling; that is, disconnecting the driving and driven members and 9 4Without'danger of air in the' high pressure circuit upon reconnectingl by operatir'igy the control valve member dftolits closed position.

Little liquid! isf usedf in; the high pressure circuit and only enough additionalx within the main casing is required to supply the` centerv ring of centrifugal liquid to eiectl afcompleter seal of the high pressure circuitand` maintain a correct thickness ci' liquid! iin they centrifugal' liquid ring toA establish a correct radius of the atmosphere center. The cycle of' operationi is' developed with out changeV in proportion oil o'preningsand the mechanism functions soJ that in the connection of the driving and driven members', the restrictions which causethe pressure andi regulate the relative speeds of saidl members, always operates on the same cycle regardless of the speed of two members. Valves are: substantially eliminated?. The single valve plate 38" is of simple structure not subject toweai" or getti-ngoutoi order.. The closure tor the opening 24 is likewise off the'same ycharacter and' could bel dispensed with, but'I it is desirable' toy eliminate oil movements. and cir cullation within the pipeJ 2"! ati the: time that the atmosphere connection; is made;

The construction illustrated, additionally t'o` the atmosphere connecting me'clianisn'i` provided', contains improvern-entsl in` construction: in: my prior structure resulting in. economy ot production, greater ease ot' assembly, a. mountingof the cylinders so that they may readilyl alinefth'emselves witht the pistons, and in other ways bettering the construction, While serving all of its purposes and functions' equally well. The invention' is very practical and'` eflicienti It is dened in the claims appended hereto andx-isato-be considered. comprehensive oi,v all structures coming within theirl scope.

I claim:

l. rotatable,` driving member, a rotatable driven memben onev of, said! members .having a casing with liquid thereinwhich provides'. a centri'i'ugal ring. oiv liquidi withinthe casing; with an atmosphere center within the liquid ring upon rotation, a; plurality of pumping; means taking '1 liquid from said liquid ring connected with said casing, means for driving said pumping means on the other rotatable member, means having passages connecting all of the pumping means in which high liquid pressure is produced by pumping operation, a control by-pass head which in open position connects all of said manifold passages, means for operating said by-Dass head toward closing position by pressure of liquid to thereby stop the pump-ing means and connect the driving and driven members, said passages having openings leading to the outside atmosphere, movable means for closing said openings for building up pressure and means for operating said movable means to an open position to reduce the pressure within said manifold passages to atmospheric pressure, whereby the pumping means will operate with a disconnection of the driving and driven members, as specied.

2. A driving member and a driven member mounted for rotation, a casing on one of said members and a, plurality of pumping means connected with the casing, means for operating the pumping means on the other of said members, said casing containing a limited quantity of liquid which on rotation of the casing takes, under centrifugal action, the position of a continuous liquid ring at the outer portion of the casing with an atmosphere center within said liquid ring, said pumping means having entrance ports TIO `from*'said'liquid' ring thereinto, means having passages therethrough connecting all of the pumping means, a movably mounted by-pass head? controlling the passage of liquid through said passagespermitting free passage :trom one pumping means to the other when open and progressively restricting said passage as itv is moved? toward cl'osir'igI position, meansv for con-- ducting liquid under' pressure caused by said -pumping means against tlie by-pass head to 'move it from: open toward' closing position, said pressure of the liquid in said passages. increasing until said pumping means is stopped and the driving and driven members are connected', said passageshaving openings leading therefrom to th'e atmosphere, a movable member located over said passages inoneposition closing them, said: mem'-y ber having openings thereinv leading toy the atmosphere which in another position are in conjunction with the manifold passages?,` andv means for moving said member to open or closing position with respect to' said passages to thereby position the mechanism for' the. building up of pressure in said passages and the plurality of pumping: means for releasing said. pressure to atmospheric pressure in which said pumping means are again rendered operable and disconnection of the driving and driven members takes piace',

3l. A rotatable driving member,Y av rotatable drivenmember, one carrying: liquid and a plurality of means for pumping the same, and the other operating. means for: actuating the pumping means, means connecting said pumping means together for: liquid passage from one to the. other',` means for feeding, liquid to the pumpingi-means' from' the liquid carriedz by said liquid carrying? member,A a by-pass head'` across vsaid 'conmectionzmeans in1 open posi-tion permitting such passage. and inclosed: position closing said passagev with a' progressive reduction in liquid passagev as the' by-'pa'ss head is moved toward closed position, means for carrying' liquid under pressure against said by-pass head toautomatically move it toward closing position and increase liquid pressure' in the' pumping-y meanswhereupon the 'pumping means' are progressively slowed in operation until the driven member is driven, said connecting means .for the liquid passage having openings thereto leading to the atmosphere, movable means closing said openings and means for moving said movable means to open said connecting means to the atmosphere, for the purposes specied.

4. A rotatable driving member, a rotatable driven member, a casing having a chamber thereu in connected to and rotatable with one of said members, a plurality of pumping units located within said chamber, means connected With the other of said rotatable members for operating the pumping units, said chamber having a body of freely movable liquid therein whereby on rotation of the casing a liquid ring is developed submerging the outer portions of the pumping units, said liquid ring surrounding a center of air, said pumping units having entrance ports for liquid from said liquid ring, means within the casing providing a plurality of pressure passages connecting the pumping units, a by-pass head controlling communication from each pressure passage with other pressure passages, means for operating said by-pass head in response to variations of liquid pressure within said pressure passages and movable means for opening and closing said pressure passages to the air center during :rotation of said casing.

5. A rotatable driving member, a rotatable driven member, a casing connected with one of said members having a chamber therein, a plurality of pumping units located in said chamber, means connected with the other of said rotatable members for operating the pumping units, said chamber having a body of freely movable liquid therein whereby on rotation of the casing the liquid takes the form of a ring submerging the outer portions of the pumping units, said outer portions of the pumping units having ports for passage of liquid from the liquid ring to the pumping units or vice versa, means within the casing connected with the pumping units having passages for liquid pumped thereby, said passages being connected and each passage having a vent port leading to atmosphere at normal pressure, a movably mounted member for closing or opening said ports, means for operating said member to port opening or port closing position, a bypass head controlling communication of the passages with each other, and means for operating said by-pass head in response to variations of fluid pressure within said pressure passages.

6. A rotatable driving member, a rotatable driven member, a casing connected with the driving member having liquid therein which provides a centrifugal ring of liquid in the casing and an atmosphere center within the liquid ring upon rotation, a plurality of cylinders within said. casing movable therewith having communication with said liquid ring, pistons withinsaid cylinders, means connected to the driven member for'reciprocating said pistons, upon rotation of the driving member, means having liquid carrying channels connecting all of the cylinders in which high pressure is produced by piston reciprocation, a movable by-pass head operable by pressure of liquid supplied by the pumping means toward closing position until the pressure balances the load carried by the driven member and stops piston operation, the driving and driven members thereby being connected together, said bypass head having an enclosing housing with passages therein leading to said channels and a member movably mounted on said housing having passages connected with the atmosphere centre which, when in conjunction with the rst mentioned passages, reduces the pressure in said manifold passages to atmospheric pressure and when moved to another position closes said passages to the atmosphere for the building up of liquid pressure, as specified.

7. A rotatable driving member, a rotatable driven member located in alinement therewith, liquid means for connecting said members including a hollow container for holding liquid surrounding and connected with the driving member to rotate therewith, a plurality of pumping units connected and movable with said driving member, means on said driven member associated with said pumping units for actuating them on rotation of the driving member,v means connecting the pumping units for the passage of liquid pumped from one to another, liquid actuated means automatically moved on rotation of the driving member beyond a predetermined speed of rotation for progressively obstructing said passage of liquid to build up pressure in the pumping units and the connecting means therefor until the pressure balances the load required to be overcome on the driven member, and operator controlled means for releasing at will said pressure in said pumping units and the connecting means therefor to disconnect the driving and driven members at al1 speeds of rotation of said driving member.

BERTRAND F. KENY ON REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,406,292 Sides Feb. 14, 1922 1,645,565 Wingquist Oct. 18, 1927 2,025,472 Perry, Jr Dec. 24, 1935 2,187,552 Ashburn et al Jan. 16, 1940 2,329,594 Corrigan Sept. 14, 1943 2,400,121 Kenyon May 14, 1946 

